A Margate micropub landlord and a Broadstairs head chef have raised more than £6000 in aid of the cardiac rehab service in Thanet.
Shaun Smethers, owner of The Two Halves in Marine Drive, and Phil Stocken, of The Jetty restaurant at Broadstairs harbour, have both been helped by the rehab team based at Holy Trinity Church in Margate and wanted to give something back.
The Cardiac Rehabilitation Service is run by Kent Community Health Trust (KCHT) and works with a wide range of cardiac patients. The aim is to empower people to return to good health, helping them to make lifestyle changes, while maintaining or improving their quality of life.
Rehab exercise programmes are run in five areas: Thanet, Canterbury, Ashford, Dover, Folkestone.
Last year Shaun underwent a triple heart bypass and this was followed by physio and other sessions with the cardiac team in Margate.
In August last year Phil had two heart attacks and received CPR twice from the ambulance crew within minutes of their arrival.
He had a heart stent procedure and also attended the eight week cardiac rehab course at Holy Trinity Church.
On his fundraising page, Phil said: “Without these classes, I dread to think where I would be. It has helped me in so many ways, I can’t begin to explain; from there I have gone from strength to strength. I haven’t been as fit or had as much energy since adolescence, it’s as though a reset button has been pushed.”
Both Shaun and Phil vowed to walk 200 miles over the course of January this year to raise funds for the cardiac team to use to buy further equipment. Between them they have raised £6086.
Shaun said: “I was looked after by the cardiac team at Holy Trinity with different classes such as physio and they were so supportive.
“In December I decided to walk 200 miles in January to raise funds. I never used to feel the cold but since my operation and the medication I do so I would walk wearing a big coat and hat.
“At the end, for the last two or three miles, I was joined by customers from the pub and Phil, from The Jetty, was also raising money as he had been through an experience too.”
Phil says the dedicated NHS staff saved his life. He added: “The main reason (for raising funds) was to give something back to these amazing people who help rebuild us and to get men to talk about the health.
“I also wanted to raise funds so others will benefit from the support and guidance that the Cardiac Rehab team delivers with such sensitivity and professionalism. Raising these funds enables the team to acquire new blood pressure monitoring machines and other equipment in consultation with them to better support the services they provide.”
The team’s Senior Exercise Physiologist Kerry Lamb said: “It’s about building not only people’s confidence physically but emotionally too, getting them to believe they can get back to doing what they enjoy.
“Each week they attend it gives them time to process what has happened and what needs to be done to improve and get stronger, as well as ask any questions they have and talk to others in the session that have gone through similar experiences.”
Find out about the cardiac rehab service at: https://www.kentcht.nhs.uk/service/cardiac-rehabilitation-service/
